Rape Crisis Scotland has published ‘Delivering services that work for survivors of colour’.

Scotland’s leading organisation working to end rape and sexual violence has released a new report focusing on services that work for survivors of colour. 

Rape Crisis Scotland has unveiled research on the experiences of survivors in colours in Scotland and how their services could better meet the needs of survivors of colour.

The charity commissioned researcher and campaigner Talat Yaqoob to carry out the analysis and produce the report in equal partnership with women of colour survivors.

She wrote on social media: “Over the last few months I’ve been working on research for 

Rape Crisis Scotland on the experiences of support services and the justice system by women of colour survivors of sexual violence - it makes clear the need for genuine, intersectional and anti-racist feminist practice.”

A series of recommendations were made in the report for Rape Crisis Scotland and local services. 

These include ensuring  “mainstream” services have a strong foundation of understanding on anti-racism, intersectionality, and cultural competence.

Services should also spend time and resource to build meaningful relationships with

communities groups on the ground to build trust and enable more women of colour to know the

services exist and will cater to them, Yaqood wrote. 

Rape Crisis Scotland have been urged to invest in delivering communications, policy and campaigns work that focuses on marginalised women. 

In total, 15 suggestions were made that encompass the third and public sectors. 

Following the report’s publication, Talay Yaqoob wrote for Rape Crisis Scotland: “This research project should be viewed only as a starting point. 

“What matters most is what comes next; how solutions will be implemented, how accountability to women of colour will take place, and how women of colour’s voices will influence the direction of mainstream service and policy design.”